Gate-latch



Patented Sept. 6, I898.

c. s; MARTIN.

GATE LATCH.

A lieation filed Dec. M, 1897-) (No Model.

' UNITED -STATES PATENT FFIGE.

GATE-LATCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 610,304, dated September 6, 1898. Application filed December 14, 1897. Serial No. 661,822. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHRISTIAN S. .MARTIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elizabethtown, in the county of Lancaster, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Gate-Latches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in that class of spring-actuated latches used on gates. One of the old and popular forms of latches of this character is constructed of spring metal, having the lower end secured to the gate,witl1 the upper end free to vibrate back and forth and forming the latch itself. This upper or vibrating end of the springlatch, having nothing to control it, is liable to be bent and twisted out of its proper position, so that in time it becomes difficult to engage the latch with the keeper.

The objects of my invention are, first, to maintain the vibrating end of the springlatch in its proper position, and, second, to provide an attachment for operating the latch more conveniently than is done with similar latches now in use.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of the various parts,as hereinafter fully described and then pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings,which form a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a gate having attached thereto a latch embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the stile of the swing ing end of the gate, the latch being shown in the position occupied thereby when in engagement with the keeper; and Fig. 3 is a similar view, but showing the latch in a retracted position. Fig. i is a top plan view of the shutting gate-post and a portion of the swinging end of the gate, showing the keeper and the device for controlling the upper end of the gate-latch; and Fig. 5,a front elevation of the latch-controlling device.

Similar letters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the details of the drawings, A indicates the shutting-post; A, the hingingpost; B, the gate, and B the stile of the swinging end of the gate, and to the front edge whereof the latch is attached.

D indicates outwardly-projecting horizontal jaws on the front edge of the stile B, and on which are formed journal-bearings d. In

bearings (Z is journaled a rock-shaft E, the

journals whereof are of less diameter than the shaft itself, thus forming shoulders which bear against the inner faces of journal-bearings d and prevent longitudinal movement of said shaft.

On shaft E is secured or formed an upright arm F, having its upper end bifurcated and forming jaws, between which one end of a link F is secured bya hinge-pin f. The other end of link F is secured by a hinge-pin '9 between jaws on the upper end of the springlatch G. Spring-latch G has its lower end secured on the front edge of stile B and some distance below the jaws D and the keeperplate H, as shown at g, from whence it is extended upward through an elongated staple 9, located below keeper-plate H, and thence between jaws D, located above said keeperplate and behind shaft E, the upper end of spring-latch G being connected with the upper end of arm F by link F, as described.

Keeper-plate H is of the ordinary shape, having the beveled edge h located to be engaged by latch G as the gate is closed and provided with the usual notch 77/, adapted to secure said latch. The journals of shaft E have secured thereto or are extended and bent to form crank-handles E, whereby the latch is disengaged from the keeper-plate, as will readily be understood. These crankhandles prevent the necessity of inserting the fingers or hand between stile B and shutting-post A to open the latch and are a great convenience.

By locating the mechanism for controlling the latch on the swinging edge of the gate and extending the vibrating end of the latch up between jaws D said jaws offer direct resistance to any lateral displacement of the vibrating end of the latch, while at the same time the link F is so short that there is no danger of its being bent, and all the parts of the mechanism are closely united to insure uniform and certain action of the parts, per= mitting the placing of the handles E where they would naturally be expected to be found and where they will act most directly on the latch.

I am aware that it is not new'to operate cured to said edge of the gate below the jaws and the other end extending upward between the jaws, a link connecting the vibrating end of the latch and the arm on the shaft, and a keeper adapted to be engaged by the latch, for the purpose specified.

2. The combination, with a gate, of jaws projecting from the swinging edge of the gate,

a rock-shaft journaled in the jaws, laterally-' extending handles on the journals of said shaft and located outside of the jaws, an upright arm on the shaft and having its free end bifurcated, a spring-actuated latch having the lower end secured to said edge of the gate and the bifurcated free end extending up between said jaws, a link connecting the free ends of the latch and the upright arm and pivotally secured in the bifurcated ends thereof, and a keeper adapted to be engaged by the latch, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

O. S. MARTIN. \Vitnesses:

J. E. MILES, D. W. BALMER. 

